opportunity, whether it's passing health reform so families don't go broke because someone gets sick. whether it's helping folks stay in their homes or fighting for the dream act so that all the our children have opportunities worthy of their dreams and their promise. >> suarez: president has won praise from latino officials in removing the threat of deportation for undocumented immigrants who were brought to the country illegally as children-- the so-called dreamers. undocumented young adults carried banners saying, no papers, no fear in sunday's big demonstration at the democratic convention. >> which side of history it's going to be on with this issue. >> we want to know what side of history the president is going to be, if he will be helping the small communities and migrant communities. >> the national head of college democrats is a mexican american from texas. alejandra salinas says, sure,

the dreamers can't vote, but their cause does drive support from latino voters who support the new policy. >> this is a country they want to get jobs in and contribute to our economy in. these are our friends and family and we love them dearly and when we know we have a president that's standing up for them and advocates for them and understands their struggles that's impactful. it inspires people. it inspires young latinos and the country to know the president is thinking about everybody and he's making sure >> suarez: a record nine million latinos voted in the 2008 election. registration drives and the campaigns are trying to drive that number to 12 million in 2012. >> we will be watching the latino vote throughout the election. local leaders are playing a big role at this year's democratic convention, and we are joined now by representatives of three major cities. atlanta mayor kasim reed; houston mayor annise parker and antonio villaraigosa, mayor of los angeles and convention chair. thank you all for being with us. >> glad to be here.

>> great to be here. >> woodruff: i do want to ask you about city issues but mayor villaraigosa what happened at the very beginning of this convention earlier this evening when you galved it to order and tried to add language in the platform about voice vote that would recognize jerusalem as capital of israel. you had to take the vote three times because the "nos" were almost as loud as the "yas." >> actually, the first time i knew we had a majority. the second time i was pretty sure, by the third time i was absolutely sure. that's what i oh, pined. you have 10 minutes to object. and nobody did. >> woodruff: but what was that all about? i mean the party has already been refugee criticism about taking that language out of the platform this year. >> i'll tea you what it was about. we have a president who expects the platform to reflect his values and his sentiments. and he made it clear that he wanted that language back in it it, and that's what whatwe did.

>> ifill: it should be said we were sitting here at the time that vote was being taken and it was not a slam-dunk that the "nos" didn't outweigh the yeahs. >> under party rules, anyone can object and no objection was made in that 10-minute period of time. >> ifill: let me turn to the question for which we have some of you here for, and i want to start with you, mayor parker. we have seen a parade of mayors on the stage at this convention, taking-- making big keynotes and becoming the rising stars. the keynote speaker last nigh nights a mayor. are mayors leaders of this party? >> more than 80% of the u.s. economy and 80% of the population is in major metro areas across the united states. where we're jobs are created. we're where people are migrating to create their future, and you'll find across america, the

mast majority of major american cities are headed by centrist, very pra pragmatic, democratic mayors sphwhrood pick up on that question, mayor reed of atlanta, what difference does it make to american cities who is president? we know federal dollars are are shrinking, whether there's a democrat or republican in the white house. >> . >> you don't get to make excuses in cities. so having a president like barack obama who understands that cities really do drive our economy, has allowed us to get a much greater share and distribution of resources. seats a matter to our bottom line. every single mayor that is sitting here right now has a budget that is stronger because of the direct support of this administration. it makes a huge difference. >> woodruff: how do you answer that question? >> i agree. i've said many times eye get asked the question a lot because i've been on the campaign trail for the president. and i'll tell you, i tell people, it matters who is in the

white house and what majority is in the congress. we've got 600 million dollars in our funding from the federal government under this administration. we got more money for foreclosured homes than virtually any city in the united states of america. we were able to get a $546 million loan. this was this president and, again with the majority, the democratic majority, and then we got bipartisan support for america fast forward which i've talked to you about in the past, the surface transportation bill. all of this happened because we had a very sympathetic president, and democrats who understood that cities are the life blood of the nation. 89% of the g.d.p. is generated in our cities. if you took just the top three cities, we have an economy the size of france. if you took the top 10 cities, we'd be a $5 trillion economy. my metropolitan area has an economy larger than 42 state.

that's also true for new york and chicago. >> ifill: and yet, mayors, one of the interesting thing when we were in tampa last week, one of the big applause lines was the idea that the federal government is running our lives, and mayors, many of them democrats, don't mind it, and that republicans do. >> i received-- we're going to jump all over this. i received a little bit of money from the federal government, butty fund my city, and i have invested my local tax dollars in infrastructure. we-- you don't turn a city over to someone who doesn't believe in government. we believe in the power of government to do things because we have to do things every day. cities have to function 24/7. we don't have time to worry about, you know, debate this theory or that theory. i have to pick up the trash. >> we're also taking on issues they're afraid to take on in washington in a serious way. first of all, we balance our budgets every single year. when i got elected we had a $1.5 billion pension crisis. we work with labor. every union had a 15-0 vote to

balance and pay down the liability. so issues that you all talk about with regard to washington every single day that never get resolved, we don't have that choice. we resolve them in dispaez that's why i think we're going to be a model for the nation, despite republican talking point. >> that is so true. in our conference of mayors, and the three of us are members of the conference of mayors, in our conference of mayors, we passed comprehensive imigation reform unanimously. last year we took on the issue of nation building at home and saying it's time to accelerate the withdrawal of our troops. we passed that with an overwhelming majority. this year we pass add as a framework, simpson-bowles, as a framework to take on the deficit. we have taken on seniority and tenure. this is a practical group of people. we're not married to orkt orthodoxy and ideology but we do have understand democrats have been more focused on cities and

on investment in those cities than republicans have. >> woodruff: are you saying the president was was wrong not to embrace simpson-bowles? >> the president has proposed a balanced effort to reduce the deficit along the lines of simpson-bowles. the only difference between the president's plan to reduce the deches and simpson-bowles is he doesn't raise taxes on the middle class upon. he races it on the top 2% of america and he doesn't cut defense to the level that he did does. simpson-bowles is a balanced approach. in the ryan plan, they just cut $4 trillion and want to give a $5 trillion tax cut to the upper income. >> you also have no partner. we can't balance the budget with no revenue. and both mitt romney and his running mate have said they will offer zero revenue. >> ifill: let me ask you this, mayor reed and mayor parker. this is a convention where everyone is talk about an election. everyone is talking about

battleground state. your state is not one. your state is not one. your state is not one. how do you know your priorities are even being heard in an election like this, mayor parker? >> again, cities are functioning very well at a very high level. people continue to move to cities. cities are where you go to find a job, to find an education and build your own future. cities are thriving with or without help from the government. we just need-- actually in large instoonsz to stay out of the way. one of the things you see mayors united on is we'd like to see direct funding to major u.s. cities will so it it doesn't get routed through the state. i work professionally with my governor, i'm still waiting on ike funding-- >> ifill: what is ike funding. >> hurricane ike. >> ifill: mayor reed. >> the same is true. if the united states wants to see our economy really move, we will find a way to stop block granting funds through states and send them directly to

mayors. we received the largest grant in the united states for $142. it is a grant from the department of transportation. we're building light rail in the city of atlanta. we matched it dollar for dollar. we put hundreds of people to work. the point i'm making is we know how to do complex projects to get our economy moving fast. >> we have raised revenue and we have cut spending at the same time displood all right, we are going to leave it there. we want to thank you all, mayor villaraigosa, mayor reed, mayor parker, thank you for beak here. >> it's a pleasure to be here. >> woodruff: we're listening to i think the very end of senator charles schumer. i think that's who is on the floor. >> it is. >> families who aren't sure what monday morning will bring but who believe our nation's best days are still ahead. president obama hasn't stopped fighting for those families, and now we need to fight for him.

( applause ) to those like mitt romney who want to take us backward, let us send a strong, strong message in november as we say in brooklyn, fuugataabout outit. >> that's senator charles schumer of new york, another urban area, obviously. next up we are looking for members of the congressional black caucus. and here is the chair, represent itch emanuel cleaver of missouri. ♪ ♪ ( cheers ) >> hello, california!

>> ifill: this is congresswoman bass from california. >> i stand before you today, i stand before you today as a proud member of the congressional black caucus and former speaker of the california state assembly ( cheers and applause ) 27 years ago in the face of opposition from those who said states should have the right to discriminate, america passed the voting rights act of 1965. people of all races, religions, and backgrounds joined together and fought for that law because every one of us deserves a fair shake and a fair chance at achieving our version of the american dream. the right to vote gives us the power to take our future into our own hands.

we must use that power today so that we do not lose it tomorrow. ( applause ) today, one of the darkest shadows of the past century is creeping into this one. one of our most basic rights, the right to vote, a right that we fought for and won, is under attack. throughout the union, governors and legislators have proposed or passed laws to make it more difficult for individuals to cast their ballots. we must build and be part of a nation where justice isn't just a catch phrase but embodies the quality and fairness that our nation's founders envisioned. more than 41 years ago, when the congressional black caucus was founded, that was our charge, and it still is. ( applause ) a vote and a voice in choosing

our leaders, passing our laws, and setting the course for our nation. and for the future we seek a generation of greater opportunity for all of us, we stand with president obama in is thing thais--in setting that pas us forward. >> friends, let me take just one moment to say-- ( cheers ) i am proud to live in the u.s.a.! u.s.a.! u.s.a.! u.s.a.! u.s.a.! u.s.a.! i am proud, proud to live in this great country.

but, friends, i must tell you, america, it is up to us right now, it is up to us to make the decision on the type of country we will have. either we will move forward towards securing economic future to be built to last with a strong middle class, or we will go back to a place where america's promise is only fulfilled for a select few. america, this we will not do. ( cheers and applause ) in the 60s, we marched because it was the right thing for our country, and it made us stronger. fortified by our dispaight endowd by our creator. we helped our country to overcome obstacles once thought insurmountable. in our nation's laws, they were

thought to be insurmountable. in our hearts we thought they were insurmountable. and once again, it's our time to uphold justice. it's our time to protect the rights that we have won. and it's our time to stand up for the country we love, the united states of america! ( cheers and applause ) our faith tells us we have a moral obligation to better our community, to accept responsibility, and to care for each other. but these values are not just unique to believers. they are american values, and this is the american way. america, it is up to us, it's up to us to wake up. it's up to us to sit up. it's up to us to stand up. it's up to us to get up. it's up to us to show up at the polls and re-elect the honorable

barack obama, president of the united states of america! u.s.a.! u.s.a.! u.s.a.! u.s.a.! god bless you. >> woodruff: some impassioned remarks from texas congressman al green, and just a reminder, you can see all of the speeches online on our live stream. >> ifill: and we turn now to a few final words from mark shields and david brooks. david, i was kind of interested in listening to them just now because you mentioned last night that this seemed like a base convention. and here we saw the black caucus. we've seen the focus on latino voters, and also women all throughout this convention. >> it's great. the republicans talked as if everybody was a member of a small business. democrats sometimes talk as if everybody is working for government or dependent on government. they're talking to people very much like themselvessic leaving a lot of people out. some of the platform fights, if you have a problem with people who go to church, don't leave

god out of your platform. if you have a problem with some jewish voters because they don't think the president is standing with israel, don't leave jerusalem out of your platform. it's a question of appealing to people who aren't for and you makinmake extra effort is and it sure we're seeing a lot of that this year. >> ifill: let's talk about that, mark. that was very interesting. mayomayor villaraigosa had an explanation. >> i have great respect for mayor villaraigosa. i think this is a party that is quite independent of barack obama when it comes to its own interests. and it's been-- there's no question that he is the galvanizing figure here, that their devotion to him is complete. but they are organized around caucuses. they were organized around policies. and they're organized-- i could see it. we have cecile richards speaking tonight. we had the leader of nral last night. emily's list. it's one by one by one, each of

them sort of a checklist in spite of the fact that abortion on any open list of volunteered most important issues is never higher than tenth. never mentioned by more than 3% of voters. yet, it has dominated the discussion in the first night. >> there's one thing that sort of mystified me, though. it's a convention, maybe like the republicans of people with safe seats. you would never know from watching the first day and a half that they lost 63 seats two years ago or a year and a half ago. the election of 2010 was a devastating setback. we're sort of abstracted from all that as if it never happened. >> woodruff: and the conversation about comparing this convention to previous conventions, most people i talk to say this is a much more uunited looking, acting, democratic party than we've seen in the past for all the different interest groups. >> i think it's a more homogenous party, no question about it. and there is less open discord,

and less discord. i think to be a democrat right now is a whole set of credo positions, and you either do that or you're not-- they're far more interested, it seems, in membership, of seeking her ticks rather than converts. >> there is a gap between the party and the president. we talked in tampa about the gap between mitt romney and his party. he's not a natural fit for that party. this president is psyche lodgeically and emotionally a little distant from the party as he is from most politicians. but i think even in policy terms, i think he's much more willing to do a deal with republicans on medicare and other things than a lot of people on the floor tonight. >> ifill: what is all this about? we have seen two days now of incredible cheers and excitement and what appears to the naked eye to be unit bethis president. yet, is it true that the president is really distanced from his people, or does

everybody just need a chance to get together and cheer? >> no, no, i think there's great unit nethis hall. i don't think there's any question about it. there aren't any minority plank having been offered. tass homogenous party-- >> except for jerusalem. >> jerusalem, yeah, which is know-- you know, that is an issue that is a core issue of both parties, and probably not to be unexpected that there would be a flap over it. what i'm seeing right now is a party that is remark self-congratulatory, rather self-pleased with itself. and i think that's a question-- is it going to reach out to the rest of the nation? beyond this hall? >> woodruff: is that a bad thing? >> yes. you know, year supposed to get 51%. and we're just in nature-- >> ifill: how different is that from what happened last week? >> no, no, exactly right. >> woodruff: in both cases. >> jiewf got two 4'6" midgets

and a jump ball is what you have. >> the tea party came in and really wanted to take apart and shrink the sides of government so the orthodoxies in the democratic party were counter-reacting-- let's protect. if you look at all the speeches -- and i've been reading the speeches-- it's let's protect this program. that's really not what clinton was about, and that's, frankly, not what the democratic mayors are about who were sitting at this table. they're cutting and expanding a much more nuanced attitude than something we're seeing. >> woodruff: that's something we'll keep an eye on tonight. and thank goodness you'll be with us tonight. >> woodruff: finally tonight, another perspective on the convention, from one of our coolest toys-- a newsgatheri tool we call the hat cam. hari sreenivasan explains. >> a transmitter and microphone climbed on board, and thus began the "newshour" hat-cam. it began transmitting live on ustream from the heads of

"newshour" staffers roaming the hallsst republican national convention. hat-cam traveled beyond the newsroom, down escalators, on shuttle buses and on to the convention floor. it showed us the convention the way most delegates see it, and it captured the energy in the room during the big speechs. everyone wanted the picture. >> slightly. >> but as much as the conversations on hat-cam were about the gadget, people began forgetting about the camera and they opened up about their families and their beliefs. this week, hat-cam is bringing another perspective to events at the democratic national convention in charlotte. >> you can follow the hatcam's adventures on our web site.

>> ifill: you can watch all six live stream channels, including the hat-cam, on our home page, including a feed in spanish and the view we have of the convention floor right now here from our skybox. >> woodruff: it's a fast-moving hat-cam. also on our web site, you can watch congressman den i kucinich take our pew quiz. congressman dennis kucinich take our pew research center political party i.d. quiz. to take the test, answer just twelve questions on our home page. then, share the results with your friends. >> woodruff: again, the major developments of the day: democrats made ready to nominate president obama for a second term, after hearing from former president clinton. the president's team canceled plans to deliver tomorrow night's acceptance speech in a pro football stadium, due to a chance of severe thunderstorms. and the afghan military announced it has arrested or fired hundreds of soldiers, in a bid to stop infiltrators from firing on coalition troops. >> ifill: and that's the "newshour" for tonight. i'm gwen ifill. >> woodruff: and i'm judy woodruff. stay with us.

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